- Did you know not all poisonous plants taste unpleasant, so bitter
taste is not an indicator of the presence of a poison!
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- Warning: If you suspect a child may have been poisoned,
immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information
Centre Urgent Phone line on 03 474 7000. For non-urgent information
Ph. 03 479 1200
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- 1. Internal Poisons - poisonous if eaten
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- Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia candida). Named for its
large pendulous while flowers, this large, well known shrub is
related to the thorn apple. It is a dnagerous plant, as all parts
are poisonous. A frost tender plant mainly found in lowland areas
towards the coast.
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- Apple of Peru
(Nicandra physalodes). An annual plant
related to the edible-fruited cape gooseberry, but with bell-shaped
blue flowers. Most parts are likely to be mildly poisonous.
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- Apple of Sodom (Solanum linnaeanum). This shrub is
so prickly that it does not invite close attention but its fairly
large mottled berry (green and white when immature, yellow at
maturity) has been reported as poisoning children.
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- Arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica). All parts are
poisonous, but take particular care that children do not eat the
attractive spikes of yellow-organce berries.
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- Asparagus
(Asparagus officinalis). The small bright
red berries produced by mature female plants in summer are mildly
poisonous.
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- Bitter almond (Prunus dulcis). The kernels are
poisonous. Note: bitter almonds (with while flowers, pink at the
base) are not as common as the ordinary edible form of Prunus dulcis
known as almond or sweet almond (all pink flowes).
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- Bittersweet
(Solanum dulcamara). The small purple
flowers and shining scarlet berries are poisonous. Only like to be
found in the southern districts.
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- Black nightshade
(Solanum nigrum). This plant is
only moderately toxic and the ripe black berries, which are similar
to black currants, are scarcely poisonous at all. Note: this is the
plant most people mistakenly call deadly nightshade. The true deadly
nightshade (Atropa bella-donna) can live up to its name, but
is fortunately very rare and only recorded in Christchurch. True
deadly nightshade has a relatively large bell-shaded,
brownish-purple flower, as opposed to the white star-like flowers of
black nightshade, and its glossy black berries can be twice the size
of those of black nightshade.
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- Boxthorn
(Lycium ferocissimum). The orange-red
berries are probably poisonous. Note that thegreen spins on boxthorn
are often not noticed until the bushes are touched. Mainly occcurs
wild along the coast, and in some gardens.
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- Broom (Cytisus scoparius). The seeds are poisonous,
especially if chewed and crushed before swallowing. The poisons are
similar to those in its relation, the laburnum, but broom seems to
be less harmful.
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- Bushman's poison (Acokanthera oppositifolia). Although
not a common species, this South African shrub is inclued because it
is one of the most poisonous plants in New Zealand. all parts are
toxic, espcially the shoots and roots. The fruit is like a small
blue-black plum. It belongs in the oleanderfamily of which most
members are dangerous.
- Acknowledgement
- Kids Friendly New Zealand would like to acknowledge
that this information is part of Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd
1999 report on Poisonous Plants and was written by W.R. Sykes, June
1991, Revised April 1999.
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- Disclaimer of Liability for Health-Related
Advice
- This information is not intended to be
comprehensive or to provide medical advice to you. While all care
has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, no
responsibility, what so ever, is accepted for any actions taken in
reliance on it. Specific advice on medical issues should be sought
from a health professional.
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